How to use Social Media to Grow your Business

Using social media can significantly help your business grow, especially in the growing phase. People are on the web today more than ever and having presence on the web will help your business succeed even more.

Here are some tips on how to use Social Media to help your business grow:

On Facebook:

Besides the obvious of opening a Facebook fan page, there are certain tips to consider when you open that page. Make sure there is an easy to find like tab on the page, links to social websites such as twitter and your company’s blog and there is an easy to find share button. Make sure to consistently update your page and to interact with your customers.

Start hosting giveaways and advertising sales to bring in more customers.

Embed an email widget so that people can sign up to your company’s newsletter.

On Twitter:

Create a catchy headline so that people know that is your company’s profile without having to verify. And don’t forget your URL!

Create a custom background or already made background consistent with your background. For example, don’t have a Johnny Depp background when you sell clothing accessories. It just doesn’t make sense. When in doubt, go plain and simple.

Tweet often and make sure to respond and interact with your followers!

 

You can also use Google +, Foursquare, and LinkedIn as well to connect with your customers and gain new ones. Don’t be afraid of using social media to grow your business. It can definitely relay great results if you are patient to see them!

What are your tips on growing your business via Social Media networks?

How to Recover from a Social Media PR Disaster

It’s human nature to make mistakes, but sometimes those slipup’s can result in a major PR disaster which spells doom for your company. There are essentially five types of PR fails and each one requires a unique solution, but don’t worry- you’ll find it totally doable.  Curious? Keep reading.

1. Inappropriate opinion

Tweeting something that doesn’t necessarily reflect the brand’s values or is not thought out is an example of inappropriate opinion.  Is it particularly damaging?  Nope.

2. Insensitive statement

Remember Michael Kors’ tweet regarding his store opening in Cairo during Arab Spring?  He tweeted,”Millions are in uproar in #Cairo. Rumor is they heard our new spring collection is now available online…”  Was this socially relevant?  Yes, but critics claimed that the tweet was culturally insensitive and consequently, should not have been posted.

3.  Early release

You should utilize social media to let the world know that you’re releasing a new fragrance, jewelry line, a niche clothing collection for midgets, etc., but don’t announce plans too early or without adequate details.  You’ll frustrate customers and this may end up not alighning with your production schedule.

4. False reward

Sure, offering a deep discount on ankle booties or beauty treatments may be a great way to attract customers, but you won’t be winning any additional followers if you fail to honor a coupon or code.

5. The hack

If an enterprising computer geek managed to access your account and post offensive or misleading information this may do relatively little damage, but it’s worth examining your security system and letting your fans know that your account, and therefore, theirs, may be compromised.

So, what do you if you make a mistake?  Fess up and do so quickly.  People will continue to respect you if you admit you made a mistake, but they’ll be pretty ticked off if you attempt to deny it.

Where You At: Taking Invitations to the Next Level

Facebook, Foursquare, and Twitter have made it fashionable to let the masses know what you are doing.  However, when is the last time you made plans in advance and told your entire network about it?  WhereBerry is a recently launched app that allows users to post future plans and hopefully find a few other friends to join in.

Furthermore, the creators of the site state that companies can use the app to target users with coupons and other promotions.  The thinking goes that retailers will be able to see if people are itching to check out a new restaurant or movie and will be more inclined to go if they can score a discount.

While the site is definitely innovative some may be forced to wonder how successful it will be.  After all, we’ve all heard about the attempts to organize massive bar crawls via Facebook that failed miserably.  Is WhereBerry something you’ll be checking out or will you stick to making pleas on Facebook and Twitter for someone to join you at the movies?

Finding a Face for Luxury Giant on Facebook

In response to slumping sales Bergdorf Goodman is trying a new campaign aimed at a much more tech-savvy generation.  The promotion, known as “Faces of 5F“, is sponsored by the luxury retailer and Lucky magazine.  In order to participate you first have to “Like” BG on Facebook.  Obviously this is a smart move because it increases the brand’s fan base substantially.  Furthermore, getting your customer base involved is a great way to stay connected with your fans.

After you “Like” the retailer you can then get all the details: submit two photos, answer a few questions, and start getting votes.  The semi-finalists will meet with a panel of experts and five lucky girls will be selected as the winners.  Furthermore, the girls not only get to be models for the company, they also snag a $1,000 gift card.  Granted, given the designer goods Bergdorf Goodman shills it might be a challenge to find anything in that price range, but that’s a problem for another day.

So, what are you waiting for?  Start snapping and maybe you’ll find your image splashed across a billboard for BG.

Want Fries with That?

McDonald’s typically doesn’t make you think of innovation.  After a half century of slinging hamburgers and fries it seems as if they have a secure business model and it would be silly to attempt too much innovation.  However, a new interactive campaign is quickly changing McDonald’s role on the social media playing field.

Ping n’ Play, unveiled in Sweden, allows passerby to play a simple game in order to win coupons for free food from the nearest McDonald’s.  Furthermore, potential players don’t have to download an app for their phone in order to participate.  Sure, pressing “Download” isn’t exactly a challenging feat, but companies have discovered that people may be reluctant to download an app they don’t see as necessary.  In bypassing this problem McDonald’s increases the number of players and therefore, traffic to their stores.

Some industry experts are suggesting that this campaign is the future of advertising; the combination of mobile social media and billboards available to all is a very exciting and promising tool to companies and consumers.

Do you think this will take off or are we going to continue to see static ads on our tablets and favorite websites?

Want More Fans? Discounted Designer Goods are One Way to Go

Very few of us have the budgets to buy L.A.M.B. shoes or Fendi sunglasses.  Prior to flash sale sites we were forged to ogle those lucky girls and boys who had the money, adoring parents, or whipped significant others to rock such goods.   However, Rue La La, Ideeli, and HauteLook have begun to level the playing field for budget fashionistas.  For those not in the know, a fashion flash sale is when a website offers deeply discounted goods for a very limited period of time.  Yet, sometimes the items offered may not exactly appeal to you.  After all, a D&G tote in neon gator print is designer, but the tag does not justify such an aesthetic atrocity.  In order to combat this problem Rue La La took to Facebook and is letting their fans decide what is delish and what is a dud.

Rue La La allowed their Facebook fans to vote on a variety of brands with the promise that the top rated designer goods would be available during the next flash sale.  The voting was conducted in conjunction with e-mail promotions encouraging voting, as well as incentives to invite your friends and spread the gospel of Rue La La.  The results?  Rue La La’s Facebook  page gained thousands of fans and the traffic to the site increased substantially.

This recent promotion is a perfect example for brands struggling with the creation of effective and engaging campaigns to integrate their social media with their company.  Rue La La crafted an original and product-specific event to generate interest, as well as recruit new followers.  This promotion worked because it stayed true to the values of Rue La La and their customers.  Ultimately, such an incentive program was effective because it did not attempt to utilize the tips and tricks of other brands.  After all, no amount of fancy Flash graphics or slick Twitter posts will matter if your audience isn’t buying it, literally or metaphorically.